Lonicera tatarica 'Hack's Red' | 10cm Pot | Purple Pink Flower

Discover the vibrant allure of Lonicera tatarica ‘Hack’s Red’, a hardy deciduous shrub bringing cheerful red blooms and lush foliage to any UK garden.

Lonicera tatarica ‘Hack’s Red’ is an outstanding specimen among garden shrubs, widely known for its profusion of striking red flowers. This popular cultivar of the Tatarian Honeysuckle offers a magnificent display, particularly through the late spring and early summer months. Originally hailing from parts of Asia, this robust plant has adapted beautifully to the diverse climates found across the United Kingdom. Its vigorous growth and captivating blooms make it a cherished choice for many garden designs, providing both visual appeal and ecological benefits.

Features of Lonicera tatarica ‘Hack’s Red’

• Vibrant, trumpet-shaped red flowers create a bold statement.
• Lush green, deciduous foliage offers attractive seasonal changes.
• Attracts beneficial wildlife, including bees, butterflies, and birds.
• Hardy and robust, it thrives in a range of UK garden conditions.
• Forms an excellent informal hedge, screen, or specimen shrub.

About Lonicera tatarica ‘Hack’s Red’

The Lonicera tatarica ‘Hack’s Red’ cultivar stands out with its intensely coloured blooms. The species, Tatarian Honeysuckle, gets its name from its native range in Tartary, a historical region of Asia. A breeder or nursery likely named this particular selection, ‘Hack’s Red’, to highlight its distinctively vibrant red flowers. Gardeners appreciate this plant for its resilient nature and generally easy-care profile.

Bloom and Foliage

Throughout late spring and early summer, Lonicera tatarica ‘Hack’s Red’ produces a stunning flush of rich, dark red, trumpet-shaped flowers. These elegant blooms emerge abundantly, often in pairs, along the branches. Following the flowers, small, bright red berries develop. They offer additional visual interest and are a particular favourite of garden birds. The shrub’s foliage consists of oval, mid-green leaves. These offer a pleasing contrast to the colourful blossoms. As a deciduous plant, its leaves gracefully turn yellow in autumn. This change marks the end of the growing season before they fall.

Garden Uses and Wildlife

This versatile shrub fits well into many garden settings. It makes a superb focal point in a mixed border, creating a splash of colour. Also, gardeners often use Lonicera tatarica ‘Hack’s Red’ to form an informal hedge or screen. This provides privacy and shelter. Its dense growth offers excellent cover for various garden creatures. Critically, the plant is a magnet for wildlife. Its nectar-rich flowers attract vital pollinators like bees and butterflies. Later, the berries provide an important food source for many bird species. This further enhances garden biodiversity. Pruning is best done after flowering to maintain shape or control size. Remove any dead or weak stems to promote healthy new growth.